The airframe that would become “Eros,” Race Number 69, was built as an AT-6D-NT by North American Aviation at their Dallas, Texas factory in 1942 and served the U.S. Army Air Forces. The airplane first raced as #69, Eros at Reno in 2005, and has participated every year since. During this tenure, Eros has qualified for the Bronze Race 14 times. In 2016 the airplane finished in 2nd place with a speed of 192.701 miles per hour. Eros finished 2nd again in 2018, with an average speed of 193.738 mph.